Background: The Cuban Missile Crisis was the most recognized moment through the Cold war. As the USSR and the Americans were locked in an arms race and tensions grew between the east and western parts of Europe, the inevitable conflict would result in the confrontation that was between October 13th to October 28th 1962. The crisis itself was a stand off between one side being assured destruction and the other private negotiations. It began with Cuban Nuclear sights discovered under construction, which pre-empted a quarantine zone around Cuba. The Soviets sent in retaliation, missiles only miles away from the quarantine creating the relenting standoff. For each sides couldn't act without the other side retaliating against their home nation.
Summary:
The chaos covering from the 14th to the 28th of October 1962 was lead by the two major super powers of their time, being the United states of America and the Soviet Union. Although the conflict was between these nations, it would have severely ended in total annihilation. For the fire power that would have rained down on each of these nations would have resulted in global destruction. As both sides were demanding various assurances before the were able to ease the conflict. As the Americans were unable to to remedy the situation without breaking the quarantine, without the threat of the Soviets launching their nuclear missiles. So as a result, the Americans promised to remove all Jericho missiles in turkey as well as signing a non-invasion agreement with Cuba. In return, the Soviets would dismantle their Cuban missile facilities and remove from the situation their arms shipment. The matter was resolved on the 28th of October and the world wasn’t caught between two opposing forces.
Consequences:
Even though the world was free from the conflict of Cuba, the resulting consequences lead to the mistrust and fragile relations between these two Superpowers. For the USSR, Castro who was the president of Cuba resented the USSR for ‘abandoning’ their revolution when conflict was starting to affect their own borders. As Fidel Castro was desperate for the Soviets to ignore the threats and follow through with their actions of conflict. Whereas for the United States, Turkey, Italy and Britain were all in discontent with the Americans as to resolve the crisis, the Americans had to agree to remove their Missiles in these nations, but primarily, it weakened the defensive military capabilities. Two years following the Cuban Missile Crisis, President Khrushchev was overthrown by Leonid Brezhnev, due to the fact that when the USSR had America in a tight spot, president Khrushchev negotiated.
Perspectives:
During the thirteen days of conflict and tension, the USSR and the United states perceived the other as nothing but hostile in their efforts to win the Arms races. Towards the Russian prospective, they saw the quarantine as an act of aggression towards the Cuban revolution and as the first step into the conflict. It was only when the Khrushchev began to negotiate with John F. Kennedy, that the Russians lost faith in their president and two years after the crisis, was Khrushchev overthrown by Leonid Brezhnev in 1964. As for the Americans, they saw the Russians as to volatile in their efforts to win the conflict between the two rivals. When they were alerted to the possible outcome, John F. Kennedy, called his generals and was presented with three options; negotiations, blockade and assault. They initiated the blockade on the 20th of October and waited till they could see what the Russians would do next. When the tensions thickened, they drew plans on how to best invade the communist state of Cuba. Once negotiations were initiated, the Americans and Russians moved to demand reassurances from the other parties. When JFK sent the final demand, he stated that if Khrushchev didn’t agree to the terms, there would be War.
Source Analysis
Source Analysis one:
Source one demonstrates the reality that America was facing during October of 1962. It depicts the distance of Cuba to the major cities of America and nearby nations. For the evidence reveals that the situation at hand was right on the Americans doorstep and for the contributing element of fear to be added into the cartoon, the precise measurement was drawn into the arrows. For the Americans, the source is designed to implicate fear and the feeling of hopelessness. Whereas the Soviets are in a state of power through this time as they control the cards to this situation.
Source Analysis two:
“The U.S Navy had orders to force the submarine to the surface if it did not stop at the line. U.S commanders had been instructed to avoid hostilities. However, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara explained during the Ex-Comm meeting that morning that the United States must expect and prepare for Hostilities” – Helga Schier
Source two reveals the fear that the Americans had for the Soviet submarines that were only miles out from the blockade line set up around Cuba. For the Americans, not only was it imperative to reduce the threat level from these hostiles, but also handle the situation without it resulting in open conflict with the USSR. For this conveys that the situation was larger than just one submarine, but in actual fact, it came down to these two super powers determining the fate of the world in 1962. But above all else, it shows that both sides knew the penalties for both sides if they resulted in arm conflict and continued anyways.
Source Analysis Three:
Source three provides a prospective other than the conflicting super powers, who have caused the chaos around Cuba. The article by the Daily Sketch which was an English tabloid reveals the fundamental details of the event rather than the alternative information which suggests that everything wasn’t available to the outside world at the time but rather selected information distributed out by the two super powers themselves. As this is an English Newspaper, there is strong evidence to say that there would have been strong bias towards the Soviets being at fault and as the event lasted just under two weeks, the information itself wasn’t as factual as the audience would have liked during the following days.
Source Analysis Four:
Source Four sums up the cold war in a nut shell seeing that the USA and USSR are competing against each other with their hands on the trigger if it doesn’t go their way. With any provocation that would go against their own nations interests. As the Cold war was a time from the end of the second world war to the closing decade of the 20th century, it consisted of the USSR and USA in constant conflict but with no direct hostile action. It had the threat of nuclear war which this Source confirms as not only is their hands on the trigger but to those triggers, two nuclear bombs.
Source Analysis Five: “For all cases”. Source five by Fritz Behrendt’s, affirms that like Noahs ark, nuclear war would end with total annihilation for all life on earth. With Nikita Khrushchev and John F Kennedy dragging their weapons of mass destruction onto the ark, it reveals that both super powers knew what the consequences were for using these weapons. During this time in 1962, both parties were in constant strife with each other as not only was the arms race in question, but also which ideology whether it be Communism or Capital would win.
Source Analysis Six: “The missile sites were completed in Cuba and Soviet troops were dug in around them. Then completely wiping out this optimism of the previous day, a further message from Khrushchev, broadcasted on Soviet radio, demanded the removal of American missiles from Turkey before the soviet missiles would be taken out of Cuba. In a further twist to the tension, a U2 plane flying over Cuba was brought down by a SAM, killing its pilot. Kennedy was now under great pressure from the military to destroy a missile site in Cuba” – John Griffiths
Source six shows how wide spread the crisis was and how within days, the governments of the USSR and USA were working around the clock to try and get leverage or an understanding of what the other side was trying to achieve. This demonstrates that not only was it now officially possible for the USSR to launch a full nuclear hardened arsenal at the United States of America, but it also meant that unless the situation was resolved quickly, war was looking more and more like a reality. To resolve the issue, not only would America be vulnerable to nuclear strikes provided they removed the Jericho missiles from Turkey, but it leaves them susceptible to eastern attacks.
The text refers to the surrounding events that caused the Cuban Missile Crisis and an elaborate understanding of what transpired in the thirteen days in October that was the Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis
Background:
The Cuban Missile Crisis was the most recognized moment through the Cold war. As the USSR and the Americans were locked in an arms race and tensions grew between the east and western parts of Europe, the inevitable conflict would result in the confrontation that was between October 13th to October 28th 1962. The crisis itself was a stand off between one side being assured destruction and the other private negotiations. It began with Cuban Nuclear sights discovered under construction, which pre-empted a quarantine zone around Cuba. The Soviets sent in retaliation, missiles only miles away from the quarantine creating the relenting standoff. For each sides couldn't act without the other side retaliating against their home nation.
Summary:
The chaos covering from the 14th to the 28th of October 1962 was lead by the two major super powers of their time, being the United states of America and the Soviet Union. Although the conflict was between these nations, it would have severely ended in total annihilation. For the fire power that would have rained down on each of these nations would have resulted in global destruction. As both sides were demanding various assurances before the were able to ease the conflict. As the Americans were unable to to remedy the situation without breaking the quarantine, without the threat of the Soviets launching their nuclear missiles. So as a result, the Americans promised to remove all Jericho missiles in turkey as well as signing a non-invasion agreement with Cuba. In return, the Soviets would dismantle their Cuban missile facilities and remove from the situation their arms shipment. The matter was resolved on the 28th of October and the world wasn’t caught between two opposing forces.Consequences:
Even though the world was free from the conflict of Cuba, the resulting consequences lead to the mistrust and fragile relations between these two Superpowers. For the USSR, Castro who was the president of Cuba resented the USSR for ‘abandoning’ their revolution when conflict was starting to affect their own borders. As Fidel Castro was desperate for the Soviets to ignore the threats and follow through with their actions of conflict. Whereas for the United States, Turkey, Italy and Britain were all in discontent with the Americans as to resolve the crisis, the Americans had to agree to remove their Missiles in these nations, but primarily, it weakened the defensive military capabilities. Two years following the Cuban Missile Crisis, President Khrushchev was overthrown by Leonid Brezhnev, due to the fact that when the USSR had America in a tight spot, president Khrushchev negotiated.Perspectives:
During the thirteen days of conflict and tension, the USSR and the United states perceived the other as nothing but hostile in their efforts to win the Arms races. Towards the Russian prospective, they saw the quarantine as an act of aggression towards the Cuban revolution and as the first step into the conflict. It was only when the Khrushchev began to negotiate with John F. Kennedy, that the Russians lost faith in their president and two years after the crisis, was Khrushchev overthrown by Leonid Brezhnev in 1964.As for the Americans, they saw the Russians as to volatile in their efforts to win the conflict between the two rivals. When they were alerted to the possible outcome, John F. Kennedy, called his generals and was presented with three options; negotiations, blockade and assault. They initiated the blockade on the 20th of October and waited till they could see what the Russians would do next. When the tensions thickened, they drew plans on how to best invade the communist state of Cuba. Once negotiations were initiated, the Americans and Russians moved to demand reassurances from the other parties. When JFK sent the final demand, he stated that if Khrushchev didn’t agree to the terms, there would be War.
Source Analysis
Source Analysis one:
Source one demonstrates the reality that America was facing during October of 1962. It depicts the distance of Cuba to the major cities of America and nearby nations. For the evidence reveals that the situation at hand was right on the Americans doorstep and for the contributing element of fear to be added into the cartoon, the precise measurement was drawn into the arrows. For the Americans, the source is designed to implicate fear and the feeling of hopelessness. Whereas the Soviets are in a state of power through this time as they control the cards to this situation.
Source Analysis two:
“The U.S Navy had orders to force the submarine to the surface if it did not stop at the line. U.S commanders had been instructed to avoid hostilities. However, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara explained during the Ex-Comm meeting that morning that the United States must expect and prepare for Hostilities” – Helga SchierSource two reveals the fear that the Americans had for the Soviet submarines that were only miles out from the blockade line set up around Cuba. For the Americans, not only was it imperative to reduce the threat level from these hostiles, but also handle the situation without it resulting in open conflict with the USSR. For this conveys that the situation was larger than just one submarine, but in actual fact, it came down to these two super powers determining the fate of the world in 1962. But above all else, it shows that both sides knew the penalties for both sides if they resulted in arm conflict and continued anyways.
Source Analysis Three:
Source three provides a prospective other than the conflicting super powers, who have caused the chaos around Cuba. The article by the Daily Sketch which was an English tabloid reveals the fundamental details of the event rather than the alternative information which suggests that everything wasn’t available to the outside world at the time but rather selected information distributed out by the two super powers themselves. As this is an English Newspaper, there is strong evidence to say that there would have been strong bias towards the Soviets being at fault and as the event lasted just under two weeks, the information itself wasn’t as factual as the audience would have liked during the following days.
Source Analysis Four:
Source Four sums up the cold war in a nut shell seeing that the USA and USSR are competing against each other with their hands on the trigger if it doesn’t go their way. With any provocation that would go against their own nations interests. As the Cold war was a time from the end of the second world war to the closing decade of the 20th century, it consisted of the USSR and USA in constant conflict but with no direct hostile action. It had the threat of nuclear war which this Source confirms as not only is their hands on the trigger but to those triggers, two nuclear bombs.Source Analysis Five:
“For all cases”. Source five by Fritz Behrendt’s, affirms that like Noahs ark, nuclear war would end with total annihilation for all life on earth. With Nikita Khrushchev and John F Kennedy dragging their weapons of mass destruction onto the ark, it reveals that both super powers knew what the consequences were for using these weapons. During this time in 1962, both parties were in constant strife with each other as not only was the arms race in question, but also which ideology whether it be Communism or Capital would win.
Source Analysis Six:
“The missile sites were completed in Cuba and Soviet troops were dug in around them. Then completely wiping out this optimism of the previous day, a further message from Khrushchev, broadcasted on Soviet radio, demanded the removal of American missiles from Turkey before the soviet missiles would be taken out of Cuba. In a further twist to the tension, a U2 plane flying over Cuba was brought down by a SAM, killing its pilot. Kennedy was now under great pressure from the military to destroy a missile site in Cuba” – John Griffiths
Source six shows how wide spread the crisis was and how within days, the governments of the USSR and USA were working around the clock to try and get leverage or an understanding of what the other side was trying to achieve. This demonstrates that not only was it now officially possible for the USSR to launch a full nuclear hardened arsenal at the United States of America, but it also meant that unless the situation was resolved quickly, war was looking more and more like a reality. To resolve the issue, not only would America be vulnerable to nuclear strikes provided they removed the Jericho missiles from Turkey, but it leaves them susceptible to eastern attacks.
Timeline of similar events during this time:
http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/1324024Bibliography:
GRIFFITHS, J.
The Cuban missile crisis
Griffiths, John. The Cuban Missile Crisis. Vero Beach, FL: Rourke Enterprises, 1987. PrintSchier, Helga. The Cuban Missile Crisis. Edina, Minn.: ABDO Pub. Co., 2008. Print.
Cuban Missile Crisis-Cold war -History.com
HISTORY.com
http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cuban-missile-crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
Wikipedia
https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Missile_Crisis
Milestones: 1961-1968-Office of the Historian
History.state.gov
https//history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/cuban-missile-crisis
About the Crisis | Cuban Missile Crisis
www.cubanmissilecrisis.org
http://www.cubanmissilecrisis.org/background/
The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962:Anatomy of a Controversy
Nsarchive.gwu.edu
http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/nsa/cuba_mis_cri/moment.htm